Welcome for pupils

PUPILS were given a warm welcome by friendly footballers when they visited their stadium.

Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation organised an afternoon for all pupils from Springwell School to visit the club’s Victoria Park ground.

They were met by players James Brown and Paul Johnson who chatted with the children, answered questions and posed for photos.

More than 60 youngsters took part in the day, which included a tour of the npower League One stadium by safety officer Maurice Russell.

The Foundation’s staff also laid on juice and biscuits for the pupils from the school in Wiltshire Way.

Jim Provett, who leads coaching at the school that provides for children with severe, moderate or profound multiple learning difficulties, said the players had “gone down a storm” with the youngsters, some of whom were visiting the Clarence Road venue for the first time.

Jim, who played in goal for Pools before hanging up his gloves, added: “It really makes our day to see the delight on the children’s faces at being able to rub shoulders with the players and experience being inside a football league stadium.

“We have to thank the club and its players for allowing us to make this possible and I’m sure they realise how much it means to the local schools for us to be able to provide such an experience.”